Hatch-cover



C. LECOMTE HATCH-COVER Nov. 20, 1956 7 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed March 28, 1955 c. LECOMTE HATCH-COVER Nov. 20, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 28, 1955 Nov. 20, 1956 c. LECOMTE 2,771,136

HATCH-COVER Filed March 28,- 1955 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 c. LECOMTE Nov. 20, 1956 HATCH-COVER '7 sheeis snee't 5 Filed March 28, 1955 Nov. 20, 1956 c. LECOMTE 2,771,136

HATCH-COVER Filed March 28, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 C. LECOMTE Nov. 20, 1956 HATCH-COVER Filed March 28, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 United States Patent HATCH-COVER Claude Lecornte, Fontenay Aux Roses, France, assignor to International Mac Gregor Organization (I. M. G. 0.), Casablanca, Morocco, a corporation of Morocco Application March 28, 1955, Serial No. 4517,3311 Claims priority, application France July 21, 1954 9 Claims. (Cl. 160-188) the applicant has already described an installation of this character wherein use is made of separate panels or panel sections interconnected through links each pivoted on both panels of a pair of adjacent panels. These sheets of panels are operated, as a rule, by means of one or two ropes or chains. In the first case it is the front panel 7 which is the driving panel, i. e. the panel exerting a traction or a thrust on the panels to which it is connected. In the other case, each rope or chain may be caused to actuate an end panel of the series.

In the aforesaid former patent there is described as a general example a panel arrangement of this character as applied to the specific case of the closing of a ships hatchway.

It is the object of this invention to provide an arrangement of the type broadly disclosed hereinabove but applicable to a vehicle, for example a railway truck of the open type, or to a fixed installation such as a silo, an open shed, etc.

The arrangement according to this invention is remarkable notably in that each of the connecting links provided between a pair of adjacent panels is pivoted at the rear and front portions thereof, respectively, and guided during the opening and closing operations by an adequate rectilinear or curved ramp or portion of the runway or guideway provided for the panels along the edges of the space to be covered.

According to another feature of this invention, the panels are operated by means of one or a pair of ropes or chains drivingly connected with one or both end panels of the series.

The substantial advantages deriving from the use of a panel arrangement of this character will be readily apparent to those conversant with the art, particularly in the light of the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification and illustrating diagrammatically by way of example a few forms of embodiment of the invention which prove how this original arrangement combines the maximum constructional simplicity with the absence of any difliculties when it is contemplated to equip existing vehicles, sheds, or like open spaces.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational side view showing one manner of equipping a railway open-truck with the panel device according to this invention;

Figure 2 is a corresponding plan view thereof;

' ice Figure 3 is a diagrammatical and fragmentary view of the same arrangement;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view at a greater scale of a joint between two adjacent panels;

Figure 5 is a sectional detail view showing a modified embodiment of a joint between two adjacent panels;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing at an enlarged scale the runway and the corresponding lateral portion of the panel;

Figure 7 is a diagram showing one possible disposition of the control or actuating device;

Figures 8 and 9 show at a greater scale two successive positions of the panels during their displacements;

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are fragmentary views similar to Fig. 1 showing three alternate forms of embodiment, and

Figures 13 and 14 are other fragmentary side views similar to Fig. 1 showing at a greater scale two different positions of a specific form of embodiment of the means utilized for locking the panels in their spread or closed positions.

In the example shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, wherein it is assumed that the panel arrangement of the invention is applied to an open-top railway truck, the closing device comprises a series ofindependent panels, 1, 1, 1" etc., adapted to close the top of the truck. In this example it is assumed that a first series of, say, four panels 1, 1', 1", 1 are adapted to close about one-half of the top aperture, whilst another series of identical panels are positioned at the opposite end of the truck and adapted to close the other half, as shown. In order to afford a clear understanding of the invention it is also assumed that the panels represented on the left-hand portion of Fig. l are in their stowed positions, i. e. disposed vertically, whilst the panels positioned on the right-hand portion of this figure and covering the right-hand half of the truck are in their closed positions.

According to the present invention, each panel 1 may comprise a pair of running rollers 2, 3 and a tip-roller 4, the latter being positioned intermediate the running roller 2 and 3. Of course, it is also possible, without departing from the invention, to provide two running rollers on the first panel 1 and only one running roller on each of the remaining rollers 1, 1", 1" as shown for instance in Fig. l. The adjacent panels are interconnected through links 5 pivoted for example about a pivot pin 6 on the rear panel 1 and about a pivot pin 7 on the front panel 1, respectively. The pivot pin 7 is positioned at a lower level than that of pivot pin 6 when the panels are in their stowed or vertical positions, as illustrated in the left-hand portion of Fig. 1.

The two end panels, i. e. 1 and 1', are attached to a pair of independent ropes or chains adapted to operate in opposite directions to spread the panels over the truck top or move them back to their stowed position, or to a single rope or chain adapted to move in both directions. It is also possible to attach only the front panel 1 to a single or double driving rope or chain. This last-mentioned solution is shown in the drawings. The single rope 8 is arranged as shown in the diagram of Fig. 7. In this example, the rope 8 is wound around a drum 9 of a hand-actuated winch and passes over sheaves or grooved rollers 10, 10', 10", 10" and 11", 11", 11 and 11 before beingwound around a drum 12 adapted to be operatively connected through a common shaftor rod 13. The rollers 10 and 11 are positioned on either side of the truck. aperture and preferably in planes parallel to the panel runways. The end panel 1' is attached to the rope 8 at 14 and 15, i. e. on either side of the aperture to be closed thereby. The point of attachment 14 is selected on'the rope side issuing directly from the drum '9',

and the; other point of attachment 15 is selected on the rope side leading to the drum 12 after passing over the return roller 10. Both drums 9 and 12 may be actuated for example by hand cranks 16 and 17.

From Fig. 1 it is apparent that the running rollers 3 are journalled on the pivot pins 7 of the connecting links 5. This arrangement is preferred because it simplifies the assembling of the parts concerned, but anybody conversant with the art will readily appreciate that the positions of the pivot pins 7 and rollers 3 may be selected to suit any specific requirements.

In the example shown in the drawings the running rollers 3 are adapted to engage ramps 18 formed endwise of the runway 19 provided along the lateral upper edges of the aperture to be closed by the device according to the invention.

When the panels are spread over the aperture, i. e. in the position shown in the right-hand portion of Fig. 1, they can be locked in position, for example by means of a rod and catch system shown more in detail in Fig. 2.

In this figure a rod 20 carrying catch means 21 is journalled in bearings 22. A hand-actuated lever 23 movable in a segment-like guide 24 is adapted to rotate the rod 20 about its axis so that in the panel-locking position the catches 21 will engage appropriate notches or holes provided for this purpose at the relevant end of the outermost panel, as shown. In the right-hand portion of Fig. 2 the catches 21 are shown as engaging the holes formed in lugs 25 secured by welding or otherwise to the last or end panel 1".

The runway 19 provided at the upper portion of the railway truck of the embodiment shown by way of example and more in detail in Figs. 3 and 6 comprises a lateral section member 26 formed with a retaining flange 27, for example. The panel is provided on the other hand with a lateral stop or rib 28 adapted to be positioned under the retaining flange 27 of section 26, as shown. The reference numeral 33 denotes a gap provided to enable the panel 1 to move without any risk of interfering with, or contacting, the upper framework of the railway truck, and any water entering the runway structure through this gap 33 will be drained through bottom holes 34.

The operation of the panel system described hereinabove takes place as follows:

The upper portion of the railway truck being in its open condition, the operator will first actuate the drum 12 in the direction of the arrows of Fig. 7. Thus, the rope or chain 8 of Fig. 8 will be pulled in the direction of the arrow F and since the resistance will be located at the fulcrum 7 the panel 1 will be rocked therearound and the roller 3 will engage the ramp 18; the link will therefore take the inclined position shown in Fig. 8 as the panel 1 continues its tilting movement around the axis of its tipping roller 4 engaging the runway 19. As the movement in the direction of the arrow F is resumed, i. e. as the operator continues to actuate the crank 17 of drum 12, the panel 1 takes the horizontal position shown in Fig. 9, and subsequently the next panel 1' will also be rocked or tipped about its tipping roller 4 while being carried along by the link 5 and exerting simultaneously an equivalent action through the link 5" pivoted on the next panel 1". roller 3 will also engage the ramp 18 and the movements described are repeated until the complete series of panels are positioned horizontally and close the corresponding portion of the top aperture of the truck. During the rotation of drum 12, the other drum 9 will rotate in the same direction to unwindthe corresponding side of rope 8.

The joints between two adjacent panels 1, 1' for example may be of the sealed type or not. Fig. 4 shows the case of a sealed joint wherein the panel 1 carries at one end aprojecting portion 36 engaging a yielding member or mass 37 located in a channel 38 provided on the adjacent panel. In Fig. 5 the case of a non-sealing joint is illustrated; this joint is obtained by removing the yield- As in the preceding case, theing mass 37 and inclining to the proper degree the section iron 35, thereby facilitating the draining of rainwater which, on the other hand, takes place without any difiiculty.

To open the truck equipped with the panel arrangement described hereinabove, the operator firstly actuates the drum 9, thereby pulling back the relevant side of the role 8; this rotation is transmitted to the other drum 1 2 which pays oh the rope to enable the panel 1 to move backwardly.

As shown in Fig. 1 a space is provided for stowing away the panels at one end of the truck by utilizing acut-ofi corner portion 39. This method of stowing away the panels avoids any undue increase in the longitudinal dimensions of the truck or, at least, of the buffers thereof.

In Fig. 10 a different arrangement is shown which differs from the embodiment of Fig. 1 only in that an additional or complementary space 40 is provided; however, this alternate disposition requires longer bumpers 41; on the other hand, the panels are located complementary outside the truck aperture and do not interfere with the space available therein.

A third arrangement is suggested in Fig. 12 wherein it is assumed that one of the panels remains horizontal when stowed away; in this case, it is the leading panel 1 which is constantly horizontal, whilst the other three or more panels are stowed away in their vertical positions. Thus, the increase in length of the bumpers 41 may be reduced to a minimum as the panel 1 may extend over a small portion of the truck aperture, as shown.

A fourth solution is shown in Fig. 11 and consists of an arrangement whereby the bumpers 41 are not departed from their standard length. This result is obtained by simply increasing the number of panels in the series and reducing their longitudinal dimensions. With this arrangement, the space required for stowing away the panels may extend somewhat over the aperture to be closed.

Apart from these few alterations the operation and principal panel arrangements are the same as in the case of Figs. 1 to 3.

In Figs. 13 and 14 is illustrated another form of embodiment of a device for locking the panels in their closed positions. There is provided beneath the runway 19 a lifting lever 43 pivoted at 44 and adapted, when actuated through a link 45 rotating in the direction of the arrow F1, to be moved to the position shown in Fig. 14. This arrangement may also comprise a stop member 46 covered by a lining of rubber or like resilient material 47 and co-acting with the hook-shaped portion of a bellcrank lever 48 fulcrumed about a fixed pivot pin 49 secured on the runway; this bell-crank lever 48 is also pivotally attached through a pin 51 to a bar extending longitudinally of the runway and pivotally attached, on the other hand, to the link 45 at 52. From this arrangement, it is clearly apparent that when the bar 50 is'moved in the direction of the arrow F2, Fig. 13, the lever 48 is rotated in the direction of the arrow F3 and brought to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 14, and at the same time the link 45 is also rotated about its pivot pin 53 on the runway 19 so as to lift the bar 50 and therefore the lever 43; consequently, the rollers 3 and 2 are raised to their upper positions in which they are shown in Fig. 14.

Of course, many modifications may be brought to the details and relative dimensions of the arrangements shown and described herein, without departing however from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will readily occur to anybody conversant with the art.

Of course, the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove are only illustrative of the manner in which the invention may be carried out in the practice, and should be considered as examples only. Thus, whilst the invention has been shown and described with reference to its application to a rail- Way truck, it will be understood that equivalent means may be used for covering open sheds or other spaces without departing from the principle of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A closing arrangement for a railway truck or the like comprising back, front and side walls said walls forming together an opening, an open guiding surface on the upper portion of said side walls flanking said opening, at least one series of longitudinally aligned movable panels, lateral roller means on said panels freely resting and rolling on said guiding surface in order to ensure a longitudinal displacement of said panels to open or close the truck, rigid link means for pivotally interconnecting two longitudinally adjacent panels, a stowage space at least at one of the ends of said space located substantially adjacent the respective back or front side, adapted to contain the different panels arranged side by side and in an upended position, inclined guideway portions extending inside said stowage space and constituting an extension of said guiding surface on which said roller means are adapted to move, further guiding means parallel with said inclined guideway portion but somewhat offset with respect thereto extending along the stowage space, lateral protrusions provided on each of said panels for positive cooperation with said further guiding means, the combined action of said protrusions along the said further guiding means together With the rolling of said rollers on said inclined guideway portions causing each panel to be tilted to and from the vertical upended position they occupy in said stowage space, pulling means connected to the panel which is the farthest from the stowage space and winding control means acting on said pulling means for causing them to move the said farthest panel in both directions, thereby either closing the said space and spreading thereupon a complete sheet of adjacent panels or opening the said space and causing the said panels to be located in the upended position in said stowage space.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein pivots ensure the connection of said rigid link means with said panels, the pivot corresponding to at least one of the panels coinciding with the axis of the said rolling means.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the said lateral protrusions consist of tilting rollers.

4. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein locking means are provided for said panels for holding them in the closed position, said locking means comprising rod means, catch means on said rod means, apertures on the rear side of at least the panel closest to the stowage space,

5. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein distinct winding means are provided on each side of said space, operative connecting means between said winding means, said pulling means consisting of a single rope forming two strands each of which is wound in an opposite direction on one of the said winding means, suitable sheave means guiding each strand of said rope along the respective lateral side of said space, and the adjacent back or front side thereof, forming thereby two further parallel strands located parallel to the said side walls, one of said strands being secured to the said farthest panel, and control means for rotating said winding means and ensuring thereby the closing and opening of said space.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5 wherein said panel which is the farthest from the stowage space is secured on one of its lateral sides to the strand of said rope coming directly from the respective winding means, whereas the opposite side of said panel is secured to the strand of said rope after it has passed the said sheave means.

7. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein grooves are provided on said guiding means permitting the said rollers of being located therein when it is desired to cause the said panels to be applied on their respective seats.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7 wherein lever means are provided for occluding the said grooves when the panels ride over said guide means.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8 wherein a single means is provided for simultaneously controlling the said link means pertaining to all of the panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 834,287 Frey Oct. 30, 1906 2,268,192 Davis et al. Dec. 30, 1941 2,574,312 Altube Nov. 6, 1951 2,590,985 MacGregor Apr. 1, 1952 2,614,627 Miller Oct. 21, 1952 2,633,613 MacGregor Apr. 7, 1953 2,641,214 MacGregor et al. June 9, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,022,707 France Dec. 17, 1952 1,034,395 France Apr. 8, 1953 

